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The information has come to light following a Freedom of Information request to the trust.

It shows there were only three items stolen from EMAS vehicles between April 2011 and March 2012 – a blue-light bar, a cylinder and bag containing anaesthesia gas and a drugs bag.

But, because of one haul where 72 blister packs of pain relief tablets were taken, this soared to 84 between April 2012 and March 2013.

A year later, EMAS recorded thefts of 70 items from its vehicles – including 15 electronic handsets.

A spokesman for EMAS said: "We take such acts very seriously because, for example, the theft of a satellite navigation unit or data screen means the ambulance has to be taken off the road for repairs and isn't available to respond to 999 calls.

"For this reason, we started investing three years ago in vehicle CCTV technology, in the hope of discouraging such mindless acts of criminality."

Other items stolen over the past three years include: a Toughbook mobile computer, blood glucose meter kits, Blackberry devices, vials of morphine, a pager, a 10ml syringe, polo shirts, jackets, a vest, ID cards and a tabard.